AISD Likely to Put Domestic Partner Benefits on Hold

AISD says it will likely not grant health benefits to domestic partners of employees. The school district will wait until a federal court decides on the issue.

This is after AISD announced in March it would extend health benefits to domestic partners, which includes same sex and unmarried couples.

However, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott argues the practice would violate Texas’ same-sex marriage ban. The district has decided to take into consideration Abbott’s opinion before making the decision to offer these benefits.

The Pflugerville Independent School District became the first district in Texas to extend health benefits to domestic partners last December but has also decided to take the Attorney General’s statement into consideration. PISD has not changed its policy.

While the opinion of the attorney general influences the ruling of Texas courts, the courts themselves have the final decision.

Related Content

AISD's Chief Finance Officer, Nicole Conley, presented a revised proposed $879 million budget for the next fiscal year Monday night.

She said although Texas public schools may be getting $3.9 billion dollars restored from the $5.4 billion state lawmakers cut in 2011, AISD isn’t expecting much of a benefit locally from the partial funding restoration.

Eastside hasn’t been meeting academic standards and could be shut down. In an effort to keep it open, the board approved a partnership with Johns Hopkins last month. But that program’s plan didn’t include an outline of what should happen at feeder schools.